174 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



be varied to suit the individual farm. If the land is 

 rich in organic matter, the amount of nitrogenous ele- 

 ments should be decreased, as too much of it makes 

 poor shippers and overgrown sizes, and tends to make 

 the vines unfruitful. 



If the shipping season is unusually prolonged, the 

 bearing season may also be prolonged by sowing from 

 50 to 100 pounds per acre of nitrate of soda or sulphate 

 of ammonia. This application should be made when 

 the plants are perfectly dry, and preferable on a windy 

 day. This precaution will reduce the number of leaves 

 scalded to a minimum. If cotton seed meal has been 

 used as a source of nitrogen, it will be found profitable 

 to scatter two or three spoonfuls of nitrate of soda 

 around the plants just after they appear above the 

 ground or as they are set out.. This will hasten them 

 out of danger from insects. 



